"This crime spree ended in a bad way. We are fortunate that Deputy Nail is going to survive," said St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith.
A shootout that occurred Easter morning in Goodbee nearly claimed the life of Deputy Justin Nail in the St. Tammany Sheriff's Office.
"He had surgery on Sunday morning and we're lucky to say that he's out of surgery as of yesterday late evening."
Tuesday afternoon, Sheriff Randy Smith shared how dangerous an attempt to arrest a suspect, 24-year-old Joseph Johnson, was Sunday morning.
The St. Tammany Sheriff says deputies were responding to reports of multiple car burglaries in the Madisonville and Covington area.
"We had some information develop in these break-ins that there was a suspect vehicle during the course of our deputies attempting to locate the suspect. They discovered a vehicle that had been broke down," Smith said.
Deputies found 24-year-old John Halley near Highway 1085 and Highway 1077. They determined that he was one of two men suspected of burglaries. They also saw another vehicle, described in the reported crimes. The sheriff says deputes tried to stop that driver, 24-year-old Joseph Johnson, but he took off and led authorities on a chase for miles. Part of that can be heard on a recording of Louisiana State Police dispatch. At one point on the recording, authorities say he was driving 95 miles per hour on rims.
According to the sheriff, Johnson later crashed the car into a ditch near Highway 1077 and Railroad Avenue in Goodbee. The Sheriff says when deputies tried to make contact, Johnson opened fire. Deputies fired back. Deputy Justin Nail was hit in the abdomen.
"We're following up with other break-ins in around our area. The weapon which was a pistol which was used to shoot Deputy Nail was stolen out of a car break-in in Slidell hours earlier," Smith said.
The parish coroner says Johnson died of multiple gunshot wounds at the scene.
John Halley will be charged with possession of stolen things and simple burglary, however more charges may be pending.